For the last year or two the childhood obesity rate is more and more prominent on the news. Obesity in a child can aggravate the risk for more child health issues like diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart health issues, lack of sufficient bone density, sleep problems, psychological symptoms and gastro-intestinal problems. These abnormalities will in all likelyhood continue into puberty and adulthood. Research has unfortunately shown that obese children has a much higher risk than other people to turn into obese adults.

Despite all the above, parents can easily impact on the lifestyle of their children and guide them to achieve a healthy lifestyle and remain healthy.

What is the role needed from parents to make a contribution to the prevention of obesity in their child? Parents must address the causes of childhood obesity. Parents must give their children a lot of attention and help them to feel wanted. If your child is neglected by you there is an increased possibility of obesity compared to other children. Your kids should not be pressured into eating more than they want to during meals, you will train your child’s metabolism to function at a higher level than what would be healthy for the child.

The amount of food eaten is not what is most important. Of far more importance is that the child should eat properly and then get adequate exercise. If you worry too much about your child’s weight you are going to encourage eating behaviours that are abnormal.

The time that your kid spends in front of the television must be limited. You will find that his or her weight is almost directly proportional to the time sitting motionless in front of the tv, watching television is obviously going to reduce physical activities by the child, it then consequently also reduces the metabolism of the body. The junk food commercials on television also affects children, and they are encouraged to eat more junk food and drink soft drinks that will have one result only and that is increased weight.

If you are thinking that your child weighs more than his or her ideal weight and that there is a risk of obesity, consult with a physician as soon as you can, to ensure that obesity is halted quickly and effectively. It is a myth that mothers to be have to eat for two people, too much food while you are pregnant just dramatically increases the possibility that both you and your unborn child will in future become obese. The young infant must be breastfeeded for at least one year. With your infant still very young, there should be strong emphasis on fruits, grains and other fresh produce while closely watching to see if the child is really hungry before being fed.

If the risk that your child will become obese is high, you should consider using fat free milk instead of full cream milk. Avoid cane sugar and snacks that contain excessive fat, because they are very high in calories. For kids that are still of school going age, you must enforce rules as to how much time can be spent each day watching television, snacks must be nutritious, treats can be allowed occasionally and generally good food habits must be encouraged.

The child obesity problem does not remain static, it increases with each year that passes and, since 1981, there has been a dangerously high increase. The childhood obesity epidemic will pose a huge threat to the future of our children and their children, and it must now be halted in its tracks all over the developed world.